Part 1 of 8: Kirk Buchner discusses the Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibles from the AFC West with Vinny Lospinuso.

Looking back at the Super Bowl recent history the New England Patriots have are now on the doorsteps of becoming the most legendary team in the NFL and a strong favorite to win once more the next Super Bowl in 2018.

In 2017 they faced the Atlanta Falcons with a horrible first half being down by over 20 points. A tremendous comeback gave them a 34-28 overtime victory to win their 5^th Super Bowl title in a league were no clear favorites have existed over time, but this seems to be changing with the Patriots consistent Super Bowl appearances and favoritism.

Today it was announced by Wide Receiver, Brandon Lloyd, who last played with the San Francisco 49ers last season will retire. 

The Kansas City native and product of the University of Illinois began his career with the 49ers who drafted him in the 4th Round of the 2003 Draft.  Lloyd would be productive but was traded to the Washington Redskins where he would wind up in the doghouse of Head Coach Joe Gibbs, who rarely played him, especially in the 2007 where he would catch two passes. 

Considered damaged goods by many, Lloyd would sign with the Bears and put up a good season to where he was signed the following year with the Denver Broncos in 2010 and it was at Mile High that he would have his best season in the NFL.  Lloyd would catch 77 passes for an NFL leading 1,448 Yards and earn Pro Bowl and Second Team All Pro Selections.  2011 and 2012 would see him close to 1,000 Yards with Denver/St. Louis and New England respectively but injuries would catch up and he would sit out the 2013 season before trying a comeback with the 49ers last season, though that campaign would not result in numbers that he had posted before.

Overall, Brandon Lloyd finishes his career with 5,989 Yards Receiving with 36 Touchdowns.  These may not be Canton numbers, but still indicative of an above average career in the NFL.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com wish Brandon Lloyd the best on his post career efforts. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have been open about the fact that we modeled both our Fictitious Athlete and Fictitious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in regards to the Preliminary, Semi-Final and Finalists rounds.  As such, we are very excited that the preliminary nominees for the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame have been announced. 



The nominees (and the respective ranking they have if they are on the Notinhalloffame.com Football list) are below.



An “x” denotes that he is a returning Finalist, a “y” that he is a first year nominee.



Quarterbacks:



Drew Bledsoe (#77)

y-Brett Favre (#1)

Steve McNair (#94)

Phil Simms (#48)

Vinny Testaverde

x-Kurt Warner (#28)





Running Backs:



Shaun Alexander

Ottis Anderson (#50)

Tiki Barber (#67)

Roger Craig (#11)

Stephen Davis

x-Terrell Davis (#21)

Eddie George

Priest Holmes

Edgerrin James (#17)

Daryl Johnston

Jamal Lewis

y-Clinton Portis

Herschel Walker (#35)

Ricky Watters (#36)

y-Brian Westbrook



Wide Receivers:



Isaac Bruce (#23)

Gary Clark (#53)

Henry Ellard (#76)

x-Marvin Harrison (#3)

Torry Holt (#9)

y-Terrell Owens (#7)

Sterling Sharpe (#46)

Jimmy Smith (#100)

Rod Smith (#54)





Tight Ends:



Mark Bavaro (#98)

Jay Novacek (#89)





Offensive Tackles:



Tony Boselli

Jim Covert

Joe Jacoby (#62)

Jon Jansen

Mike Kenn (#99)

Jim Lachey

x-Orlando Pace (#15)

Chris Samuels





Offensive Guards:



y-Alan Faneca (#5)

Chris Hinton (#68)

Kevin Mawae (#16)

Mark May

Nate Newton

Mark Schlereth

Steve Wisniewski (#26)



Centers:



Jeff Bostic

Jay Hilgenberg (#71)

Kent Hull

Tom Nalen  





Defensive Ends:



Dexter Manley

Charles Mann

Leslie O’Neal

Simeon Rice





Defensive Tackles:



Fred Smerlas

Bryant Young





Linebackers:



Cornelius Bennett

Tedy Bruschi

y-Keith Bulluck

x-Kevin Greene (#37)

Ken Harvey

Levon Kirkland

Clay Matthews

Willie McGinest

Karl Mecklenburg (#65)

Matt Millen

Sam Mills (#85)

Zach Thomas

y-Mike Vrabel





Cornerbacks:



Eric Allen (#44)

Ty Law (#60)

Albert Lewis

Shawn Springs

Troy Vincent

Everson Walls





Safeties:



Steve Atwater (#19)

Joey Browner

LeRoy Butler (#79)

Rodney Harrison (#96)

x-John Lynch (#57)

Lawyer Milloy

y-Darren Sharper (#66)

Darren Woodson





Kickers:



x-Morten Andersen (#83)

Gary Anderson

y-John Carney

Jason Elam

Nick Lowery





Punters:



Sean Landeta





Special Teams:



y-Ethan Albright

Brian Mitchell

Steve Tasker





Coaches:



x-Don Coryell

Bill Cowher

x-Tony Dungy

Tom Flores

Mike Holmgren

x-Jimmy Johnson

Chuck Knox

Buddy Parker

Richie Petitbon

Dan Reeves

Pete Rodriguez

Lou Saban

Marty Schottenheimer

Clark Shaughnessy

Dick Vermeil



The Semi-Finalists will be announced in November following an announcement for the Finalists prior to the NFL Playoffs.  The day before the Super Bowl, the full Class of 2016 will be unveiled.

Any surprises?  Any glaring ommisions?

As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com will be keeping our eyes on this one!

It was announced that Ken Stabler, famed Oakland Raiders Quarterback, has died today from colon cancer at the age of 69 in Gulfport, Mississippi. 

Stabler was a standout at the University of Alabama and would be drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 1968 but would not play for the team until 1970.  Emerging as a classic drop back passer, “The Snake” would win the 1974 MVP award and later in 1976 would win the Offensive Player of the Year.  He would have his greatest moment in Super Bowl XI when he would lead his team to victory.  He would finish his career with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints, but it was with the Raiders of which he has become synonymous. 

Over his career, Ken Stabler would throw for nearly 28,000 Yards and was a former four time Pro Bowl selection.  He would also compile an impressive 96-49-1 record as a starting Quarterback.

There have many who have claimed that Stabler is one of the biggest snubs from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He is the only member of the 1970’s NFL All-Decade Team.  At present, we at Notinhalloffame.com have him ranked at number six of those who should be considered for the Hall.  He was a Finalist for Canton in 1991, 1992 and 2003.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Ken Stabler at this time.  He will be missed.